Improved transportation system

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a transportation system which includes an elongated guidebeam having three spaced apart running surfaces. Two of the running surfaces are substantially vertical to accommodate wheels rotating about vertical axes and the third running surface is substantially horizontal to accommodate wheels rotating on horizontal axes. Wheels which rotate on a vertical axis and wheels which rotate on a horizontal axis are connected to a rack which is adapted to move along the running surfaces of the guide-beam. The wheels connect the rack on the side of the guidebeam in cantilever fashion. Connecting switch sections are provided at desired locations on the elongated guidebeam to connect two or more guidebeams. The switch sections have no moving parts and cooperate with movable means, such as extendable and retractable wheels, of the rack to provide for selective high speed switching both in horizontal and vertical modes of a rack between an upline guidebeam and one or more spaced apart downline guidebeams and between two or more spaced apart upline guidebeams and a single downline guidegeam.

Jacobs, Jr. et a1.

[ 1 May 2, 1972 [54] IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM [72] Inventors:Justin M. Jacobs, Jr., 500 Sansome St., Suite 501, San Francisco, Calif.94111; Neil S. Stafford, Route 3, Box 355, San Jose, Calif. 95121 [22]Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 861,843

[52] U.S. Cl ..104/88, 104/121, 104/130 [51] Int. Cl ..B61b3/02 [58]Field ofSearch ..lO4/88, 89, 93, 96, 105, 119, 104/130, 121

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,141 4/1931 Connors..104/l21 3,363,584 1/1968 Brush ..104/105 3,451,351 6/1969 Hawes...3,430,580 3/1967 Edens.... 3,437,053 4/1969 Bush Primary Examiner-ArthurL. La Point Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney-Edward J. Keeling[57] ABSTRACT The disclosure is of a transportation system whichincludes an elongated guidebeam having three spaced apart runningsurfaces. Two of the running surfaces are substantially vertical toaccommodate wheels rotating about vertical axes and the third runningsurface is substantially horizontal to accommodate wheels rotating onhorizontal axes. Wheels which rotate on a vertical axis and wheels whichrotate on a horizontal axis are connected to a rack which is adapted tomove along the running surfaces of the guide-beam. The wheels connectthe rack on the side of the guidebeam in cantilever fashion. Connectingswitch sections are provided at desired 10- cations on the elongatedguidebeam to connect two or more guidebeams. The switch sections have nomoving parts and cooperate with movable means, such as extendable andretractable wheels, of the rack to provide for selective high speedswitching both in horizontal and vertical modes of a rack between anupline guidebeam and one or more spaced apart downline guidebeams andbetween two or more spaced apart upline guidebeams and a single downlineguidegeam.

44 Claims, 71 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 I 3,659,529

12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JUSTIN M. JACOBS JR.

NEIL S. STAFFOR ATTO EY Patented May 2, 1972 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JUSTIN M. JACOBS JR.

NEIL s. STAFFORD ATTdfiEY m wE Patented May 2, 1972 12 Sheets-Sheet 5FIG .8

R O T N E V m JUSTIN M. JACOBS JR.

NEIL S. STAFFORD ATToaEY z Patented May 2, 1972 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG...

INVENTOR. JUSTIN M. JACOBS JR.

NEIL s. STAFFORD ATTOR NEY Z Patented May 2, 1972 12 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,529

12 Sheets-Sheet 9 FlG l7 INVENTOR.

JUSTIN M. JACOBS JR.

NEIL S. STAFFORD ATTQRNEY Patented May 2, 1972 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 QN QIm8 m8 m8 R m fi m s m w N C RN 1 1 M 5m hm M. m g NNN w c% qmm N8 N 58mm SN 9% W m8 N OE NEIL s. STAFFO ATT RN! EY 7 Patented May 2, 1972 12Sheets-Sheet ll Patnted May 2, 1972- 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 mN DE n IMPROVEDTRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATION This application is related toour co-pendingapplication, Ser. No. 746,884 filed July 23, 1968 forTransportation System. The disclosure of such application isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a transportation systemwhich includes an elongated guidebeam having running surfaces forcarrying a rack thereon and more specifically the invention deals with atransportation system having connecting switch sections for switching arack between upline and downline guidebeams without the necessity ofmoving parts in the connecting switch sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A particular problem which has heretoforeplagued most fixed rail and guidebeam transportation systems hasoccurred in switching a moving member from one fixed rail section to asecond section which second section is either horizontally or verticallydiverging from the main section. Heretofore, as exemplified byconventional railroad transportation systems, it has been necessary toprovide a switch section which had a movable portion between the twodiverging portions of the track or running surfaces to allow switchingof the train from one rail section to the second diverging rail section.In our above-mentioned, previously filed, co-pending application wedisclosed a method of vertically switching a rack from an uplineguidebeam to one of two downline guidebeams utilizing a movable sectionpositioned on an intermediate connecting guidebeam switch sectionbetween the two diverging downline guidebeams. It has been found thatwhile movable switches of this nature are operative to provide forswitching a rack, it is necessary, particularly where high density, highspeed flow of a number of racks is desired, that switching beaccomplished without need for a movable member in the guidebeamswitching section. This is particularly necessary where a computerizedtransportation system is desired which will allow for closely spaced,high speed travel of a number of individual racks along a guidebeamsystem which may include many interchanges and switches. Thus there maybe many racks moving at very closely spaced intervals along a mainguidebeam in such a system and it may be desirable to switch some of theracks to alternate diverging guidebeams while allowing other of theracks to pass through on the main guidebeam. The time lag required bythe movable portion of the heretofore disclosed connecting guidebeamswitch section requires that a definite time interval be maintainedbetween the racks travelling on the mainline guidebeam. That is, theracks must maintain certain space intervals depending on the speed andthe time lag of the switch.

As noted above, a unique transportation system was described and claimedin our above-mentioned, earlier filed application. As disclosed in thatapplication, a transportation system was provided which included anelongated guidebeam having three parallel rails or running surfaces. Therunning surfaces included an upper guide running surface, a lower guiderunning surface and a support or drive wheel running surface. A rackhaving wheels was provided for moving on the running surfaces. The rackhad load carrying means on one side and the wheels on the other side.The wheels of the rack included an upper guide wheel for running on theupper guide wheel running surface, a lower guide wheel for running onthe lower guide wheel running surface and a support or drive wheel forrunning on the support or drive wheel running surface. The support ordrive wheel was powered and moved the rack along the guidebeam.Switching means were disclosed in our earlier application. These switchmeans required, however, that at least some of the interconnectingrunning surfaces between two diverging elongated guidebeams be movable.Thus it was heretofore necessary in order to switch a rack from oneelongated guidebeam to a second downline guidebeam to move at least someof the intermediate connecting running surfaces of the section betweensuch guidebeams. While this operation can sometimes be handledefficiently, it has been found especially desirable to provide for highspeed switching of racks from one guidebeam to a second spaced apartguidebeam. This high speed switching has been provided for by developinga rack and cooperating connecting switch sections so that it is notnecessary that a portion of the connecting switch section be movable.Thus we have now developed an elongated guidebeam system which hasconnecting switch sections formed in a manner to cooperate with a rackso that switching of the rack from one guidebeam to another may beaccomplished without the need of moving parts on the connecting switchsection. In this manner high density traffic may pass to a switchsection and rapidly select a path through the switch section to one ormore downline guidebeams without the necessity of time delay caused bymoving parts in the switch section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toan arrangement of guidebeams interconnected by specially devisednonmovable connecting sections which cooperate with racks assembled inaccordance with the invention to permit both horizontal leftright andvertical up-down switching of the racks from a main upline guidebeam toa selected guidebeam of two or more spaced apart downline guidebeams orvice versa without moving parts in the connecting guidebeam switchsection. Two types of racks are disclosed in accordance with theinvention. Connecting switch sections are described for each type ofrack for switching the racks in both a horizontal mode or a verticalmode. The versatility of switching of the present transportation systemis particularly helpful in providing a complete system which iscompatible with a wide range of topographical and station requirements.

The present invention is directed to a transportation system whichincludes a powered rack adapted to move on a guidebeam. The guidebeamhas an upper guide wheel running surface and a lower guide wheel runningsurface. These running surfaces are substantially vertically disposed inopposing relationship with the upper guide surface formed on aninteriorly facing wall of the guidebeam and the lower guide surfaceformed on an exteriorly facing wall of the guidebeam. A substantiallyhorizontal support wheel running surface is also provided for on theguidebeam. A rack is provided with sets of wheels adapted to engage andto travel along the running surfaces of the guidebeam. Connectingsections are provided for connecting an upline guidebeam with two spacedapart diverging downline guidebeams to provide for selectively moving arack to one of such downline guidebeams and connecting sections are alsoprovided for merging two upline guidebeams into a single downlineguidebeam. The connecting section has no moving parts. The rack byvirtue of a movable means carried thereon may selectively be guidedthrough the connecting section to one of either of the two or morediverging or spaced apart downline guidebeams. Thus the switch sectionmay be embodied toconnect a single upline guidebeam with two divergingdownline guidebeams. The switch section may also be embodied to provideswitching between a pair of spaced apart parallel mainline guidebeams.And, of course, the switch section may be embodied to connect two uplineguidebeams into a single downline guidebeam. The switching may beaccomplished in either a vertical or a horizontal mode.

The elongated guidebeam of the present invention has in general threespaced apart running surfaces provided thereon for carrying a-poweredrack. The rack has sets of wheels which retainthe rack on the guidebeamand which move on the running surfaces of the guidebeam to advance therack along the guidebeam. More specifically the rack has sets of upperguide wheels, sets of lower guide wheels and support wheels.

The sets of upper. and lower guide wheels are usually made up of dualvertically spaced apart wheels although, as will be evident, othercombinations of wheels or a single wheel may often be used in accordancewith the invention. The running surfaces for the upper and lower guidewheels are formed in substantially vertical planes and the runningsurfaces for the support wheels are formed in substantially horizontalplanes. The running surfaces for the upper and lower guide wheels aresubstantially vertical and are disposed 180 apart. The upper guiderunning surface is fonned on an interior surface of the guidebeam whilethe lower guide running surface is formed on an exterior surface. Thusthe guidewheels and the support wheels cooperate to hold the rack on therunning'surfaces of the guidebeam in cantilever fashion. Connectingswitch sections are provided to connect upline guidebeams land downlineguidebeams. The mainline guidebeams and the connecting switch sectionsare provided with upper and lower guide wheel running surfaces andsupport .wheel running surfaces. The connecting switch section moreoverhas at least two sets of upper and lower guide wheel running surfaces.One set of upper and lower guide wheel running surfaces is connectedbetween the mainline guidebeam and one of the spaced apart guidebeamsand the other of such sets of upper and lower guide wheel runningsurfaces is connected between the mainline guidebeam and the. other ofthe spaced apart guidebeams. The connecting switch guide wheel runningsurfaces connect the guide wheel running surfaces of the main guidebeamwith-the guide wheel running surfaces of the two separate spaced apartguidebeams. The connecting switch sections are provided with at leasttwo horizontal running surfaces for the support wheels. The twohorizontal support running surfaces diverge from a single support wheelrunning surface on a main guidebeam to the support wheel running surfaceof each of the two or more separate spaced apart guidebeams. The supportwheels of the rack are adapted to selectively choose between one of thetwo or more horizontal support wheel running surfaces of the connectingswitch section to determine to which one of the guidebeams that the rackwill be directed. The connecting sections have no moving parts. Anextendableand retractable support wheel of the rack selects one of thehorizontalrunning surfaces of the connecting section to provide forswitching therack from one main guidebeam to a selected second mainguidebeam. The guide wheels follow the appropriate guide wheel runningsurface to such selected second main guidebeam. Both horizontaland-vertical switching of the rack are provided for by this in-,

vention. 7

Thus in one aspect the present invention is directed to a guidebeamtransportationv system for use by wheeled racks which guidebeam systempermits switching of racks from the running surfaces of an uplineguidebeam to the running surfaces of a spaced apart ordiverging downlineguidebeam or vice versa without the need for moving parts in theconnecting guidebeam switch section. For example, an upline guidebeam isprovided with appropriate horizontal and vertical running surfaces forthe wheels of a rack. A connecting guidebeam switch section connects theupline guidebeam with a first diverging downline guidebeam and a seconddiverging downline guidebeam. The connecting guidebeam section isprovided with a first set of horizontal and vertical running surfacesfor each of the wheels of the rack between the running surfaces of theupline guidebeam and the running surfaces of switch section providealternative diverging paths for the. wheels of a rackbetweentheluplineguidebeam and the two diverging downline guidebeams. A rackhaving suitably arranged vertical and horizontal sets of wheels forrunning on such running surfaces is provided with movable means forselected diverging downline guidebeam. The connecting,

guidebeam switch sections can be embodied in a manner so that eitherhorizontal or vertical switching of a rack from an upline guidebeam to aselected downline guidebeam is possible. The connecting switch sectionshave no moving parts and the mode of switching from one guidebeam toanother guidebeam through the connecting guidebeam switch section isselected by movable means such as extendable and retractable supportwheels ofthe rack. The rack utilizes sets of dual vertically spacedapart wheels for both upper and lower guide wheels to, by virtue of suchvertical spacing, bridgeopenings in the guide wheel running surfacesthat are necessary in the connecting switch section to pass portions ofthe rack through the section. 1

In a more specific aspect the present invention is directed to atransportation system utilizing an elongated guidebeam system.Connecting guidebeam switch sections are used to connect an uplineguidebeam section with each of two or more downline guidebeams. All ofthe guidebeams have upper vertical guide wheel running surfaces formedon inner facing walls of the guidebeams, lower vertical guide wheelrunning surfaces formed on outer facing walls of the guidebeams andhorizontal support wheel running surfaces formed on horizontal walls ofthe guidebeams. The connecting guidebeam switch section includesstationary support means extending between an upline guidebeam and eachof at least two downline guidebeams. A first horizontal support wheelrunning surface is provided on said stationary'support means foraccommodating support wheels rotating on a horizontal axis of a rack.First upper vertical guide wheel running surfaces are also located onsaid stationary support means to provide first upper running surfacesfor theupper guide wheels of a rack. The first upper running surfacesare formed to cooperate with the vertically spaced apart upper guidewheels of the rack to permit bridging of gaps in the running surfaceneeded to pass parts of the rack in the switch section. First lowervertical guide wheel running surfaces are provided on said stationarysupport means to provide first lower running surfaces for thelower guidewheels of the rack. The first lower running surfaces cooperate with thelower guide wheels to bridgegaps in the running surface necessary topass parts of the rack. All of said first running surfaces serve toconnect respective counterpart running surfaces of the upline guidebeamwith the respective running surfaces of one of the downline guidebeams.A second support wheel running surface is located on the stationarysupport means. This second support wheel running surface diverges fromthe said first support wheel running surface.

' Second upper vertical g'uide'wheel running surfaces are also the dualvertically spaced apart upper guide wheels of the rack to bridge gaps inthis running surface which are necessary to pass parts of the rackthrough the switch section. Second lower vertical guide wheel runningsurfaces are also located on the stationary support means to providesecond lower guide running surfaces for the lower dual guide wheels. Thesecond lower running surfaces cooperate with'the lower guide wheels topass parts of the rack through gaps in the running surface which may benecessary to pass parts of the rack through the switch section. All ofthe second running surfaces serve to connect the respective counterpartrunning surfaces of the upline guidebeam with the respective runningsurfaces of the other of the downline guidebeams. A rack is providedwith upper guide wheels and lower guide wheels forrunning on the upperguide running surfaces and the lower running surfaces respectively ofthe guidebeams. The guide wheels are adapted to engage the runningsurfaces in spaced apart relationship with the upper guide wheelsengaging a running surface formed on inward facing walls of theguidebeam. ln

this manner the rack is held in cantilever fashion on the guidebeam. Theupper and lower guide wheel sets are formed of dual wheels spacedvertically apart to bridge gaps in the respective running surfaces whichare necessary in the switch section to permit passage of portions of therack through the switch during different modes of switching. The rackalso has horizontal support wheels adapted to run on support wheelrunning surfaces to complete the engagement of the rack on theguidebeam. The guide wheels are arranged so that they may selectivelyrun on either the first or the second guide wheel running surfaces of aconnecting guidebeam switch section. By selectively requiring thesupport wheels to run on a given support wheel running surface of theconnecting switch section, the rack is selectively directed to one ofthe two or more downline guidebeam sections. Specially adaptedvertically spaced apart upper and lower guide wheels allow the guidewheels to bridge the gaps in the guide wheel running surface which arerequired to pass portions of the rack during such switching operations.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION A particular object of the present invention isto provide a transportation system for carrying people, freight andvehicles over a minimum right of way which transportation systemincludes an elongated guidebeam system having nonmoving switch sectionsfor carrying a special rack at high speeds and which provides forswitching the rack in both horizontal and vertical directions bothdiverging from an upline guidebeam to one of two or more downlineguidebeams and merging to a downline guidebeam from two or more spacedapart upline guidebeams without the use of moving parts in theconnecting switch section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription read in light of the accompanying drawings which are made apart of this specification and in which FIG. 1 is a perspectiveschematic illustration of the modes of switching that are selectivelyaccomplished in accordance with the preferred embodiment of apparatus ofthe present invention without the use of moving parts in the connectingswitch sections;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in schematic form of the preferred embodimentof apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation in schematic form of the preferred embodimentof apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed elevation view with portions broken away forclarity of presentation of the preferred rack assembled in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed side elevation with portions broken away forclarity of presentation of the preferred rack assembled in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view with portions broken away for clarity ofpresentation of the preferred rack assembled in accordance with thepresent invention:

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view with parts removed for clarity ofpresentation taken at line 77 of FIG. 6 and illustrates the apparatusused to drive the support wheel;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view with parts removed for clarity ofpresentation taken at line 88 of FIG. 7 and illustrates the apparatusused to drive the support wheel;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view with parts removed for clarity ofpresentation taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 4 illustrating apparatus forextending and retracting the support wheel, and showing the supportwheel in retracted position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating thesupport wheel in extended position;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a portion of apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a connecting switch sectionproviding vertical switching in accordance with the preferred form ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 12a-12i are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a connecting switch sectionproviding horizontal switching in accordance with the preferredembodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the presentinvention; FIGS. Ilia-13g are sectional views taken as indicated fromFIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a partial top view of the connecting switch section shown inFIG. 13;

FIGS. l4a-14b are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the first portion of a verticalswitch connecting section providing interchange between two mainguidebeams for the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 15a-l5f are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 15;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of the second portion of the connectingsection of FIG. 15 illustrating vertical interchange between two mainguidebeam sections for the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembledin accordance with the present invention; 7

FIGS. l6a-16e are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a perspective schematic illustration of the modes ofswitching that are selectively done by the alternative embodiment ofapparatus of the present invention without the use of moving parts inthe connecting switch section;

FIG. 18 is a schematic side elevation of an alternative embodiment ofapparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic end elevation of the alternative embodiment ofapparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a detailed elevation view of an alternative rack assembled inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a detailed end elevation view of the alternative rackassembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a detailed top view of the alternative rack assembled inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a side elevation view of an alternative connecting guidebeamswitch section useful to switch an alternative rack selectively betweentwo vertically spaced apart guidebeam sections;

FIGS. 23a-23i are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 23;

FIG. 24 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment ofconnecting switch section providing for horizontal switching of analternative rack between a first guidebeam section and two divergingdownline guidebeam sections;

FIGS. 24a-24g are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG. 24;

FIG. 25 is a top view of a portion of the connecting switch sectionillustrated in FIG. 24; and

FIGS. 25a-25b are sectional views taken as indicated from FIG, 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, FIG. 1shows a perspective schematic illustration of the modes of switchingthat may be selectively accomplished in accordance with the preferredembodiment of apparatus of the present invention. These modes ofswitching are accomplished without the use of moving parts in theconnecting switch section. Thus in accordance with the invention a rackmay switch horizontally from a main guidebeam to the left or to theright, to diverging downline guidebeams, or may continue through such aconnecting switch section on the mainline guidebeam. As is evident bythe reverse arrows, the

switch section can be modified so that arack may also be switched into athrough mainline guidebeam from guidebeams merging from the left or theright. The rack may be switched from a mainline guidebeam vertically upor vertically down to 8 The dual wheel configuration of the upper guidewheels 33, 35 and the lower guide wheels 37,39 is provided to permit theI rack to be switched from an upline guidebeam to one of two or Refernow to FIGS. 2;.and 3 in particular. where the preferred embodiment ofapparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention is shown inschematic form. FIG. 2 is a side elevation and FIG. 3 is an endelevation partially in section showing a rack generally indicated by thenumber attached to and in running position on an elongated guidebeamwhich is generally indicated by the number-30. The guidebeam is formedto provide a path in the transportation system and serves to carrytherunning surfaces onwhich the rack 20 moves. The rack 20 is comprisedofframe member 22 having a series of spaced apart wheels rotatablyattached thereto. The wheels includesets of upper guide wheels 33,35;sets of lower guide wheels 37 ,39; and support wheels 38. The supportwheels 38, as hereinafter will be discussed in detail, are usuallydrivenby a power source and therefore also function as drive wheelsto move therack along the guidebeam. As indicated in the drawings, the preferredembodiment rack has sets ofdualvertically spaced'apart upper guidewheels which include wheels 33 and 35. These wheels form a set of upperguide wheels. The lower guide wheels comprise a pair of verticallyspaced apart wheels 37 'and 39. The sets of wheels are positioned'on theframe 22 at suitable intervals depending on the load and length oftherack 20. ltis usually'desirable to have at least two sets of dualupper guide wheels, two sets of dual lower guide'wheels', and at leasttwo support wheels.

Theguidebeam 30 is held in desired position by suitable support means,such'as for example,by a series of columns, such as column'44, spacedapart-along the right of way. The guidebeam 30 may be composed, forexample, of prestressed sections resting end to end on a series ofsupports such as column 44. Suitable overall dimensions for suchprestressed sections as a guide to understanding the present inventionhave been found to be about8 feet high by 6 feet wide and 100 feetlong.The guidebeam may be "formed as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 so thatracks can utilize both sides of the more spaced apart downlineguidebeams or vice versa without the need for moving parts in theconnecting guidebeam switch section. The present invention provides forsuch switching of a rack 20 from the main upline guidebeam section toone of two or more downline guidebeams or vice versa, in either avertical or horizontal mode. The dual guide wheel configuration of theupper and lower guide wheels permits continuous contact of one or theother of the respective dual upper andlower wheels with their respectiveguide running surfaces during the entire switching operation as the rackis switched from one guidebeam to another through the switch section.Since, as is fully explained later, it isnecessary to have gapsin theguide running surfaces of the connecting switch guidebeam sections topermit passage of portions of the rack on different paths through suchswitch sections it is preferred to have dual guide wheels on both upperand lower guide wheels so that one of the dual wheels on each guidewheel is always in contact with its respective running surface. The dualupper and the dual lower guide wheels are necessary so that the samerack may utilize all of the various vertical and horizontal switchsections hereinafter described. It will. be apparent that forsomeswitches-a dual configuration of both upper and lower guide wheels maynot be necessary. As indicated inFlG. 2 and FIG.

3, the mainline sections of the guidebeam preferably only pro ble powersource supplying power to the support wheel 38. As

noted it is preferred to use a wheel which rotates on ahorizontal axisas the drive wheel. It is of course possible to provide either or boththe upper guide wheels and thelower guide wheels with power. Motivepower is supplied to the support wheel 38 by a suitable power source.Such'apower source may be for example an electric motororan internal combustion engine. Such a power source is schematically illus trated inFIGS. 2 by the box indicated by the number 46. lf it is desirable todrive more than one support wheel then a second power source 48 may beutilized. Suitable drive train means guidebeam. In. this manner rackstravelling in opposite directions may utilize the same guidebeam at thesame time.

'The guidebeam 30 provides at least three spaced apart running surfacesfor the rack. Thus on each mainline right of way portion of theguidebeam there is provided an upper guide running surface 34; a lowerguide running surface 40; and a support wheel running surface 42.'Theupper guide running surface 34 and the lower guiderunning surface 40have substantially vertically disposed running surfaces to acguidebeamin cantilever fashion. Thus the upper guide surface 34 is formed on aninward facing wall of the guidebeam 30 while the lower guide runningsurface 40 is formed on an outward facing wall of the guidebeam 30. Theupper guide wheels 33,35 and the lower guide wheels 37,39 cooperate withthe support wheels 38 to position the rack on the running surfaces ofthe guidebeam'in cantilever fashion.

' running surface. The support wheel 38 and the lower dual are providedto connectthe power'source 46 to thesupport wheel 38. Control means 50are preferably carried on the'rack 20 to control the power sources 46and 48 and the movement of rack 20 along the guidebeam 30. Control means50 is preferably electrically activated. and invmany instances will, bevtied into a computer network so that a number of racks may be moved atclosely spaced intervals along the guidebeam.

Refer now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. FIG. 4 is an elevation view of thepreferred rack assembled in accordance with the present invention. FIG.5 is a side elevation view of the preferred rack and FIG. 6 is a topview of the preferred rack of the present invention. The rack has twosets of dual upper guide wheels 33, 35 and two sets of dual lower guidewheels 37, 39. Support or power wheels 38 are used to move the rack 20along ,the running surfaces of the guidebeam. The rack 20 includes aframe 22 which has overhanging arm members 62 which are adapted toextend over the upper portion of the guidebeam to cause the upper guidewheels to engage the inner running surface of the guidebeam which formsthe upper guide wheel guide wheels 37,39 are preferably formed in unitsand connected to the frame 22 mating flanges and '94. In accordance withthe invention the rack has a movable means which cooperates withdiverging or converging running surfaces of a connecting switch sectionto provide for directing the rack from a main upline guidebeam to one oftwo or more.

diverging'downline guidebeams or vice versa. Certain wheels of the rackare useful as such a movable means. Thus the support wheels 38 of thepreverred apparatus are extendable and retractable to direct the rackthrough a selected diverging or converging running surface of aconnecting switch section.

The support wheels 38 are extended and retracted from the rack bysuitable means as illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4-6. The wheels 38are preferably extended or retracted in a direction normal to thedirection of travel of the rack while the rack is moving along theguidebeam to reduce friction caused by such movement. Such friction isreduced to an acceptable minimum when rubber pneumatic tires are used.The axles 32 of the support wheels 38 are rotatably mounted on the frame22 of the rack 20. In addition, these rotatably mounted axles 32 arealso prepared so as to be capable of reciprocal motion, i.e., they canmove in and out from the rack. Suitable bell cranks 107 are pivotablymounted on pins 108. One of the ends 99 of each of the bell cranks isconnected to the ends of each of the axles. The other ends 109 of thebell cranks are connected to a suitably arranged double acting hydrauliccylinder 105 through push rods 106. The hydraulic cylinder 105 isfixedly mounted in the frame 22 by suitable pins 98 which engage in theframe. Thus, when the hydraulic cylinder is activated the support wheels38 are extended or retracted by the action of the above describedmechanical linkage. Hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic cylinder isprovided by hydraulic motor 97 which is controlled by control means 50through suitable connections as shown. Although two positions of thesupport wheel are disclosed in the preferred embodiment, it is evidentthat the support wheel may be extended and retracted to operate on threeor more running surfaces by suitable action of the hydraulic cylinder105. The support wheels 38 are powered through axles 32 by appropriatepower sources. The power source may be formed by an electric motor orinternal combustion engine. Thus electric motors 96 are connectedthrough suitable driving train linkage to the drive wheels 38 throughaxles 32. The powered support wheel 38 is preferably arranged forrotation about a horizontal axis and disposed to run on a surfacelocated immediately above the lower of the dual lower guide wheels 39.The support wheel 38 power source is controlled by control means 50carried on the frame 22. Suitable circuitry extends between the controlmeans 50 and motors 96 for providing control. As described in ourabove-cited, co-pending application, suitable electrical rails may beprovided on the guidebeams for pickup by a shoe carried on the rack tosupply electricity to the rack.

Arranged on the load carrying side of the rack are a series of load hookmeans generally indicated by the number 81. The load hooks 81 arepivotally mounted on a shaft 83. The load hook 81 is controlled andpivoted by suitable linkage 84. The linkage 84 is connected to ahydraulic cylinder 85 which extends or retracts the hook 81. Motor 86controls the extension and retraction of the cylinder 85. Thus, when aload is moved against the rack the load hooks 81 are activated to securethe load to the rack by engaging suitable rings on the load. The loadmay be released by actuating the load book 81 through the linkage 84. Alocking arm 87 which is pivotally mounted on the frame is provided foruse in locking hook 81 by means of switch 88 to prevent accidentalmovement of the hook.

The upper and lower dual guide wheels are vertically spaced apart on theframe member. The distance which is required between the top wheel 33and the bottom wheel 35 of a set of upper dual guide wheels will varydepending on a number of considerations. These considerations willbecome apparent when the nonmoving switch sections are described laterin detail. The distance that the top wheel 33 is located above arm 62 isalso governed by a number of considerations. It is noted that the centerof the top wheel is about two times farther from the center of the arm62 than the center of the bottom wheel 35 of the upper dual guidewheels. This arrangement is necessary so that the support arm 62 may beallowed to pass through gaps in the running surface of the switchsections while maintaining one of the two upper guide wheels 33, 35 onthe upper guide running surface. Similarly the lower guide wheels 37, 39are vertically spaced apart to provide for bridging gaps in the runningsurfaces of the connecting switch section needed to pass the portions ofthe arm 62 and the support wheel axel 32 extending into the guidebeams.

FIGS. 7 through 1 1 illustrate the extendable and retractable supportwheel and the means for driving the support wheel of the presentinvention which permits switching of a rack without moving parts of theswitch. FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 4with parts removed for clarity of presentation illustrating the assemblyof apparatus used to rotate the support wheel of the rack. FIG. 8 is asectional view taken at line 8-8 of FIG. 7 with parts removed forclarity of presentation and also illustrates the drive means for thesupport wheel. Referring specifically now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a supportwheel 38 is rotatably connected to the frame 22 of a rack. An axle 65having a suitable flange 66 is connected to the support wheel bysuitable bolts and the axle extends through housing 67 into the interiorof the frame 22. A sleeve bearing member 68 supports the axle 65 insideof housing 67. This bearing member 68 is adapted to allow both rotatingmovement and reciprocal movement of the axle 65. The interior endportion of the axle is splined. The splined end 69 of the axle iscaptured in a bearing housing 70 and as will be further described below,the ball bearings in housing 70 are arranged in a manner to permitreciprocal, i.e., longitudinal stroking motion of the axle and to permitrotational motion of the axle within the housing 70. Thus when thehousing 70 is rotated the axle 65 is also caused to be rotated. The ballbearing housing 70 is rotatably mounted in the frame 22 on suitablesupports 71-74 by sleeve bearing member 75. A main gear member 76 islocated around ball bearing housing 70 and is fixedly connected forrotation therewith by suitable means such as a key 77. Thus when thegear member 76 is rotated, the axle 65 is caused to rotate which in turnrotates support wheel 38 which moves the rack. A worm gear 78 is matedto the main gear member 76. The worm gear is mated to the main gearmember 76. The worm gear is rotatably mounted on the frame 22 by sleevebearings 110,111. A shaft of the worm gear extends into motor 96. Whenthe motor operates to drive the shaft the power is transmitted to thesupport wheel as described above. The means for extending and retractingthe support wheel are illustrated in detailed FIGS. 9-11. FIG. 9 is anenlarged sectional view with parts removed for clarity of presentationtaken at line 9-9 of FIG. 4 and shows the support wheel 38 in retractedposition. FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 9 andshows the support wheel in extended position. The power and drivingmechanisms shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8 have been substantiallyremoved from FIGS. 9 and 10 to allow for clarity of presentation. FIG.11 is an elevation view of the bell crank and shows the yoke portionthereof.

As noted above, the axle 65 which carries the support wheel 38 entersthe frame 22 through housing 67. A sleeve bearing member 68 rotatablyand reciprocally mounts the axle in the housing. The other end 69 of theaxle is splined and is constrained in bearing housing 70. The splines ofthe axle are captured between longitudinal rows of ball bearings 112which in turn are held against rotation by ribs 113 of bearing housing70.

The extension and retraction of the support wheel is accomplished bystroking the axle 69 in or out as desired. Thus the support wheel isstroked in a direction normal to the direction of travel of the rack toselect a running surface on which it moves. A flanged collar 114 isfixedly connected to the axle 65 and rotates therewith. A bell crank 107having a yoke 115 at one end is adapted to engage pins 116, 117 into thecollar 114. These pins 116, 117 allow the collar to rotate. However, asthe pins are moved back and forth by the action of the bell crank 107they cause the collar to extend and retract the support wheel 38 to thepositions illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The bell crank is rotatablymounted by means of pivot pin 108 on ann 118 of the frame. One end of apush rod 106 is connected to the end 99 of the bell crank 107. The otherend of the push rod 106 is connected to hydraulic cylinder 105 which isused to move the bell crank and to thus extend and retract the supportwheel 38. A spring 1 19 is useful to assist in retracting the supportwheel if desired. Additionally the spring 119 serves to move the supportwheel to a retracted position should the linkage from the hydrauliccylinder fail.

In accordance with the present invention two positions are provided forthe support wheels. That is to say that it has been found that when thesupport wheel is capable of being moved to two separate horizontalrunning surfaces that switching can be accomplished without the use ofmovable parts in the connecting switch section. In Accordance with theinvention then the rack is switched or is caused to continue along agiven guidebeam depending on the running surface which the extendableand retractable support wheel elects to follow in the upstream portionof the connecting guidebeam section. A support wheel of the presentinvention is thus movable to at least two possible positions in adirection normal to the direction of rack travel. It will be apparentthat the above discussed linkage can be modified to provide for three ormore positions for the support wheel if such is desirable for any givenswitch configuration. In the first position, for example, the supportwheel will follow a running surface which will permit a rack to continuealong the main guidebeam right of way. In a second position the supportwheel will cause a rack to be switched vertically or horizontally to anauxiliary guidebeam right of way by virtue of the support wheelfollowing a support wheel running surface which causes the rack to be soswitched.

FIGS. 12 through FIG. 16 illustrate a number of connecting switchsections arranged in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofapparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention. Theseconnecting switch sections afford various switching modes both in avertical manner and in a horizontal manner for the preferred rack of thepresent invention. The preferred rack as set out above is of the typehaving a support wheel disposed well below the center of gravity of therack. The vertical and horizontal modes of switching refer to theoverall disposition of the rack through the connecting switch section.Thus when referring to a horizontal switch section it is understood thatwhile there may be some vertical displacement of the rack going throughthe section, the switching operation is carried out primarily at aconstant elevation. Vertical switch sections on the other hand requiresubstantial displacement of the rack to achieve switching. It will alsobe evident that while many of the switch sections are described asproceeding from an upline guide beam to one of two or more selecteddownline guidebeams, the opposite can also occur. That is, by reversingdirection of travel of the rack and the sequence of stroking of theSupport wheel (or by reversing the elements of the connecting section) arack may come from one of two spaced apart guidebeams through aconnecting switch section to merge with a single mainline guidebeam.

In FIG. 12 and FIGS. l2a-l2i a vertical connecting switch section isillustrated. In this vertical switch section provision is made forselectively directing a rack from an upline guidebeam to one of two ormore vertically spaced apart downline guidebeams. It is noted that oneof the downline guide beams forms essentially a through track with theupline guidebeam and therefore this switch section may, if desired, beaptly described as selectively permitting a rack to continue along on amainline guidebeam or alternatively be vertically switched to analternative vertically displaced downline guidebeam. As noted, if thisswitch section were set up for travel in the opposite direction, merginginto a single guidebeam would occur. FIG. 13, FIGS. 13a13g, FIG. 14 andFIGS. 140-141: illustrate a horizontal switch connecting section for thepreferred rack which provides for substantially horizontal switching ofracks between an upline guidebeam and two or more spaced apart downlineguidebeams. Here also it is obviously possible to think of selectivelycausing the rack to continue along a main guidebeam (both upline anddownline of the switch section) or to be directed to a divergingdownline guidebeam. FIG. 15, FIGS. 15a-l5f, FIG. 16 and FIGS. 16a-16eshow a vertical switch connecting section for selectively moving racksbetween two vertically spaced apart parallel mainline guidebeams. It isnoted that while the embodiment of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 provide aconnecting switch section for selectively either directing a rackthrough the switch section to cause it to continue along the lowermainline or upper mainline or directing a rack from the lower mainlineto the upper mainline that obviously the switch can be embodied toswitch the rack from the upper mainline to the lower mainline inaccordance with the invention. It is also noted that FIG. 15 and FIG. 16illustrate both diverging switching and merging switching in the sameswitch section.

Thus in summary, FIGS. 12-16 inclusive illustrate various connectingswitch sections for switching the preferred rack of the presentinvention in both a horizontal mode and a vertical mode. Theseconnecting switch sections are all compatible with the preferred rackand thus a transportation system utilizing the preferred guidebeamconstruction may incorporate either or both horizontal switches andvertical switches at various places to be utilized by a single type ofrack. Thus at one place because of space limitation it may be desirableto incorporate a vertical switch into the system while at another placea horizontal switch may be preferable and as further noted, the switchsections may be used to provide connection from an upline mainlineguidebeam to one of two diverging downline guidebeams and in addition toprovide merging to a single downline guidebeam from two uplineguidebeams.

In order to specifically describe the various switch sections, firstrefer to FIG. 12 and FIGS. l2a-12i where a vertical connecting switchsection of guidebeam is illustrated. This connecting switch section isused to vertically switch racks between an upline guidebeam and one oftwo downline guidebeams for continued travel along a selected route ofthe system. FIG. 12 is an elevation view and FIGS. 1211-121 aresectional views taken at lines a-a through i-i of FIG. 12.,FIG. 12ashows a typical cross section of a mainline guidebeam assembled inaccordance with the invention. Such mainline guidebeam is indicatedgenerally by the number 130. Two vertically spaced apart downlineguidebeams 131 and 132 are also shown. A sectional view of the twodownline guidebeams is shown in FIG. 12i. The two downline guidebeamsI31 and 132 may travel along a common vertical plane or they may divergein different directions to carry racks to different points. Thus thedownline guide beams 131 and 132 are complete and independent and eachof them serve to independently carry a rack much as upline guide beam130. The connecting switch guidebeam section which provides forselectively directing a rack from upline guidebeam to either one of thetwo downline guidebeams 131 or 132 is the portion intermediate to guidebeam 130 and 131 and 132 and is illustrated in sectional views in FIGS.12b-12h.

The operation of the rack and connecting switch section will now bedescribed in detail. A rack will be followed both passing through theswitch section from guidebeam 130 to downline guidebeam 132 andvertically switching through the switch section from guide beam 130 tovertically spaced apart guidebeam 131. Initially assume that a rack ismoving along guidebeam 130 and that it is desired to move the rackthrough the connecting guidebeam switch section and have it proceedalong downline guidebeam 132. As illustrated in FIG. 12a the mainlineguidebeam 130 is provided with three spaced apart running surfaces.These running surfaces include an upper guide running surface which isprovided for an upper guide wheel of the rack. A lower guide runningsurface 141 is provided for a lower guide wheel of the rack. Optionallya second lower guide running surface 142 may also be provided for theupper of a pair of lower guide wheels of the preferred rack. Asindicated heretofore however, it is only necessary that one upper guiderunning surface and one lower guide running surface be provided for oneof each of the upper dual wheels and the lower dual wheels over themainline portion of the guidebeam right of way. It is only necessary toprovide dual upper and/or dual lower running surfaces in the switchingsections where necessarily one or the other of the wheels must disengagea running surface which is interrupted to provide a gap or window forthe rack or a portion of the rack to pass through. A substantiallyhorizontal running surface 143 is provided for support wheel of therack. The support wheel of the preferred rack of the present inventionis capable of being stroked from a normally retracted position to anextended position. This extension or retraction is normally done over aconsiderable length of guidebeam so as to reduce transverse stress onthe wheel to a minimum and to permit a smooth transition of the supportwheel between such running posiuons.

Assuming it is desired to move the rack from upline guidebeam 130through the connecting switch section to downline guidebeam 132 thesupport wheel is maintained in a normal retracted position so as to rideon the nonnal portion of the horizontal running surface 143. More simplystated, the support wheel is left in its normal running position. InFIG. 12b the horizontal support running surface begins to widen out.However, since the support wheel of the rack is retracted it continuesto run on the outer portion 143 of such surface. The lower wheel of thedual upper guide wheels engages surface 140. The lower dual guide wheelsof the rack continue to engage surfaces 142 and 141 respectively. As therack continues through the connecting section to a location of FIG. 12c,the guide wheels and the support wheel continue to run on the samerespective running surfaces. By this time the support wheel runningsurface has widened out to point to provide an outer surface 143 and aninner surface 146. As will be described in detail later, the path thatthe rack will follow through the switch section depends on the pathtaken by the support wheel. Thus if it is desired to move the rackthrough the switch to guide beam 132, as is now being described indetail, the support wheel is maintained in the retracted position andruns on the outer running surface 143. If, on the other hand, it isdesired to shift the rack vertically in the switch section to guidebeam131 then the support wheel would be moved to an extended position to runon surface 146.

As the rack continues along the connecting guidebeam switch section to aposition illustrated in FIG. 12d the support wheel continues to run onsurface 143. Now, however, guide wheel running surface 142 has moved upaway from surface 143 and the upper wheel of the dual lower guide wheelsloses contact therewith and is now freewheeling. However, the lowerguide wheel of the lower dual guide wheels continues to run on runningsurface 141. The upper guide wheels by virtue of the lower of such dualwheels continues to be engaged on running surface 140. The supportrunning surfaces 143 and 146 have now vertically separated. As the rackmoves to a position shown in FIG. 12: a new lower guide wheel runningsurface 144 appears and now both lower guide wheels are in contact withthe switch section. The lower wheel of upper guide wheels continues toengage surface 140 and the upper wheel now contacts surface 145. In FIG.12f the support wheel and the two wheels of the lower guide wheelscontinue to run on running surfaces 143, 144 and 141 respectively. Therunning surface for the lower wheel of the upper guide wheels now hasdisappeared and this lower wheel is freewheeling. However, the upperwheel of the upper guide wheels continues to engage running surface 145to maintain the rack in cantilever position on the connecting switchsection. The window created by the temporary removal of running surface140 allows the axle of the support wheel of a rack to clear when therack is being vertically switched to guidebeam 131. As is evident, thetotal absence of an upper guide running surface cannot be toleratedsince this would allow the rack to fall from the guidebeam. Thus thedual wheels forming the upper guide wheels permit release of the runningsurface of one wheel at a time to permit passage through the switch ofportions of the rack which otherwise would not pass.

When the rack has moved to a position illustrated by FIG. 12g the lowerportion of the guidebeam has for all intents and purposes returned tonormal. That is, the support wheel continues to run on running surface143 and the lower guide wheels run respectively on surfaces 144 and 141.The lower of the upper guide wheels has returned to engage runningsurface 140. The identical situation is also seen in FIG. 12h and FIG.

121. As indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 12i between the upper andthe lower guidebearns 131 and 132 these guidebeams are now independentand can continue vertically disposed along the same path or diverge on anew path to any desired location.

If it is desired to direct a rack through the switch section from uplineguidebeam to vertically spaced apart downline guidebeam 131, that is toaffect a vertical switching operation from the mainline guidebeam whichmay be for example guidebearns 130-132, the following steps will occur.A rack as it enters the portion of the guidebeam illustrated in FIG. 12awill be engaging guidebeam 130 in a normal manner as was previouslydescribed for mainline operation. In the portion of the switch sectionlocated between FIG. 12a and FIG. 120 the support wheel of the rack willbe extended normal to the direction of travel of the rack so that thesupport wheel runs on the interior running surface indicated by thenumber 146. The support wheel running surface of the connecting switchsection is gradually widened out as illustrated in FIG. 12b toaccommodate the gradual extension of the support wheel of the rack.During this time the upper and lower guide wheels continue to run onsurfaces 141, 142 and as before. In addition the upper wheel of theupper guide wheels has picked up surface as shown in FIG. 12b. Thisarrangement continues to FIG. 120 while the support wheel is being fullyextended onto surface 146. Just after passing the position of FIG. 12cthe interior support wheel running surface 146 begins to ramp up to gainelevation. Thus the interior support running surface 146 has anelevation substantially above the outer support running surface 143.

The gain in elevation of the extended support wheel up the rampedsupport running surface 146 causes the entire rack to be moved upwardly.The upward movement of the rack of course is reflected in an upwardmovement of the upper guide wheels and the lower guide wheels. Thereforein the portion of the connecting switch section between FIG. 12c andFIG. 12d the upper wheel of the dual lower guide wheels continues toengage on running surface 142 which running surface also gains elevationthrough this portion of the switch section. The lower wheel of the duallower guide wheels leaves running surface 141 and is freewheeling as itcomes through FIG. 12d. The upper guide wheels of course are alsoelevated through this portion of the switch and the upper guide wheel ofthe dual upper guide wheels continues to engage upper guide wheelrunning surface 150 which also gains elevation through this portion ofthe connecting switch section. The lower wheel of the dual upper guidewheels disengages from running surface 140 and is freewheeling throughthe portion shown in FIG. 12d. As the ramped inner support wheel runningsurface 146 continues to gain elevation through FIG. 12e and and FIG.12f one wheel or the other of both the dual upper wheels and dual lowerguide wheels continues to engage their respective running surfaces toprovide a cantilevered mode of connection for the rack on the guidebeamswitch section. As shown in FIG. 12e both the wheels of the lower dualguide wheels are engaged respectively on surfaces 142 and 152. The upperwheel of the upper guide wheels engages surface 150 and the lower wheelof the upper guide wheels engages surface 148.

The support running surface 146 continues to ramp up through thepositions shown in FIG. 12f and FIG. 12g. Going from FIG. 12e to FIG.12f, the lower wheel of the upper dual guide wheels engages runningsurface 148. In this same stretch running surface 150 has ended. This ofcourse occurs after running surface 148 is made available for the upperguide wheels. The upper guide wheels will continue to use guide wheelrunning surface 148 throughout the rest of the connecting switchsection. The lower guide wheels engage surface 152 through the portionof the connecting switch between FIG.

1. A transportation system having non-moving connecting switch sectionscomprising a main guidebeam, a first spaced apart guidebeam, a secondspaced apart guidebeam, all of said guidebeams having an inwardly facingvertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lowerguide running surface and a substantially horizontal support runningsurface formed thereon, a connecting guidebeam switch section extendingbetween said main guidebeam and each of said spaced apart guidebeams,first non-moving connecting running surfaces on said switch sectionbetween said main guidebeam and said first spaced apart guidebeam, saidfirst running surfaces comprising an inwardly facing vertical upperguide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide runningsurface and a substantially horizontal support running surface, each ofsaid first running surfaces being connected between the counterpartrunning surfaces of said main guidebeam and said first spaced apartguidebeam, second non-moving connecting running surfaces on saidconnecting switch section between said main guidebeam and said secondspaced apart guidebeam, said second running surfaces comprising aninwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardlyfacing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantiallyhorizontal support running surface, each of said second running surfacesbeing connected between the counterpart running surface of said mainguidebeam and said second spaced apart guidebeam, at least one gap insaid first or said second guide running surface for passing a portion ofthe aftersaid rack, a rack for cantilevering on a guidebeam havingwheels for use in moving on the running surfaces of said guidebeams,said wheels including a support wheel for running on said supportsurface, and upper and lower guide wheels for running on said upper andlower guide surfaces, at least one of said upper or lower guide wheelsbeing dual vertically spaced apart wheels for bridging the gap in eithersaid first or second guide running surface, and movable means on saidrack for selectively moving on one of said connecting running surfacesto selectively move said rack through said switch section between saidmain guidebeam and one of the said spaced apart guidebeams.
 2. Thetransportation system of claim 1 further characterized in that saidfirst or said second running surface of said connecting guidebeam switchsection includes an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surfaceformed by a depending wall of said connecting guidebeam switch section.3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the mainguidebeam is an upline guidebeam and the spaced apart guidebeams arediverging downline guidebeams.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the main guidebeam is a downline guidebeam and thespaced apart guidebeams are merging upline guidebeams.
 5. The apparatusof claim 3 further characterized in that the downline guidebeams arevertically spaced apart.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 furthercharacterized in that the downline guide beams are horizontally spacedapart.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that theupline guidebeams are vertically spaced apart.
 8. The apparatus of claim4 further characterized in that the upline guidebeams are horizontallyspaced apart.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in thatthe movable means on said rack are extendable and rEtractable supportwheels movable between at least two positions and that said rack hassets of dual upper guide wheels and dual lower guide wheels.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the support wheelsare located near the lower part of said rack.
 11. The apparatus of claim10 further characterized in that each of the support wheels is locatedbetween each set of dual lower guide wheels.
 12. The apparatus of claim9 further characterized in that the support wheels are located near thetop of said rack.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized inthat a pair of auxiliary support wheels are located adjacent to each ofthe support wheels.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterizedin that each of the support wheels is located between each set of dualupper guide wheels.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterizedin that the connecting running surfaces of the connecting guidebeamsection contain gaps to pass portions of a rack and that the dual upperguide wheels and the dual lower guide wheels cooperate to bridge suchgaps as the rack is moved through the connecting switch section.
 16. Aguidebeam switch section for switching between an upline guidebeam andone of two or more spaced apart downline guidebeams comprising an uplineguidebeam having an inward facing vertical upper guide wheel runningsurface, an outer facing vertical lower guide wheel running surface anda substantially horizontal support wheel running surface, a firstdownline guidebeam having an inward facing vertical upper guide wheelrunning surface, an outer facing vertical lower guide wheel runningsurface and a substantially horizontal support wheel running surface, asecond downline guidebeam having an inward facing vertical upper guidewheel running surface, an outer facing vertical lower guide wheelrunning surface and a substantially horizontal support wheel runningsurface and a connecting guidebeam switch section having the upline endthereof connected to the upline guidebeam and a downline end thereofconnected to each of said spaced apart downline guidebeams, saidconnecting guidebeam section having a first inward facing vertical upperguide wheel running surface, a first outer facing vertical lower guidewheel running surface, and a first substantially horizontal supportwheel running surface, all of said first surfaces being connectedbetween the counterpart running surfaces of said upline guidebeam andone of said spaced apart downline guidebeams, (and) said connectingguidebeam section having a second inward facing vertical upper guidewheel running surface, a second outer facing vertical lower guide wheelrunning surface and a second substantially horizontal support wheelrunning surface, all of said second surfaces being connected between thecounterpart running surfaces of said upline guidebeam and the other ofsaid spaced apart downline guidebeams and a substantially verticallyextending gap in at least one of said first guide running surfaces orsecond guide running surfaces, said running surface being continuous inthe normal direction of travel along said guidebeam connecting sectionfor cooperation with a rack having dual vertically spaced apartguidewheels.
 17. The switch section of claim 16 further characterized inthat said first or said second running surface of said connectingguidebeam switch section includes an inwardly facing vertical upperguide running surface formed by a depending wall of said connectingguidebeam switch section.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 furthercharacterized in that the downline guidebeams are vertically spacedapart.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that thedownline guidebeams are horizontally spaced apart.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 16 further characterized in that the first running surfaces ofsaid connecting switch section have gaps to pass portions of a rackmoving through said switch section.
 21. The apparatus of claim 16further characterized iN that the second running surfaces of saidconnecting switch section have gaps to pass portions of a rack movingthrough said switch secton.
 22. The apparatus of claim 16 furthercharacterized in that both the first and second running surfaces of theconnecting switch section have gaps to pass portions of a rack movingthrough said switch section.
 23. A guidebeam switch section forswitching from one of two or more spaced apart upline guidebeams to adownline guidebeam comprising a downline guidebeam having an inwardfacing vertical upper guide wheel running surface, an outerfacingvertical lower guide wheel running surface, and a substantiallyhorizontal support wheel running surface, a first upline guidebeamhaving an inward facing vertical upper guide wheel running surface, anouter facing vertical lower guide wheel running surface and asubstantially horizontal support wheel running surface, a second uplineguidebeam having an inward facing vertical upper guide wheel runningsurface, an outer facing vertical lower guide wheel running surface, anda substantially horizontal support wheel running surface and aconnecting guidebeam switch section having the downline end thereofconnected to said downline guidebeam and upline ends thereof connectedto each of said spaced apart upline guidebeams, said connectingguidebeam section having a first inward facing vertical upper guidewheel running surface, a first outer facing vertical lower guide wheelrunning surface, and a first substantially horizontal support wheelrunning surface, all of said first surfaces being connected between thecounterpart running surfaces of said downline guidebeam and one of saidspaced apart upline guidebeams, (and) said connecting guidebeam sectionhaving a second inward facing vertical upper guide wheel runningsurface, a second outer facing vertical lower guide wheel runningsurface and a second substantially horizontal support wheel runningsurface, all of said second surfaces being connected between thecounterpart running surfaces of said downline guidebeam and the other ofsaid spaced apart upline guidebeams and a substantially verticallyextending gap in at least one of said first guide running surface orsecond guide running surface, said running surface being continuous inthe normal direction of travel along said guidebeam connecting surfacefor cooperation with a rack having dual vertically spaced apartguidewheels.
 24. The switch section of claim 23 further characterized inthat said first or said second running surface of said connectingguidebeam switch section includes an inwardly facing vertical upperguide running surface formed by a depending wall of said connectingguidebeam switch section.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23 furthercharacterized in that the upline guidebeams are vertically spaced apart.26. The apparatus of claim 23 further characterized in that the uplineguidebeams are horizontally spaced apart.
 27. The apparatus of claim 23further characterized in that there are two or more downline guidebeamsand that the downline guidebeams are horizontally spaced apart.
 28. Theapparatus of claim 23 further characterized in that the first runningsurfaces of said connecting switch section have gaps to pass portions ofa rack moving through said switch section.
 29. The apparatus of claim 23further characterized in that the second running surfaces of saidconnecting switch section have gaps to pass portions of a rack movingthrough said switch section.
 30. A rack for use in cantilever fashion ona guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two sets of upper dual guidewheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on an over-hangingarm of said frame, at least two sets of lower dual guide wheelsrotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on said frame, at leasttwo support wheels rotatably and reciprocally mounted on a normallyhorizontal axis on said frame and means for extending and retractingsaid support wheels in a direction normal to said frame.
 31. Theapparatus of claim 30 further characterized in that the support wheelsare located near the lower part of said frame.
 32. The apparatus ofclaim 31 further characterized in that the frame has power meansattached thereto for rotatably driving said support wheels.
 33. Theapparatus of claim 30 further characterized in that the support wheelsare located near the top of said frame.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33further characterized in that the frame has power means attached theretofor rotatably driving said support wheels.
 35. Apparatus comprising aframe, at least (3) three types of wheels rotatably mounted on saidframe, said types comprising at least a pair of spaced apart (dual)upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis, atleast (2) two spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on anormally vertical axis and at least (2) two spaced apart support wheelsrotatably mounted on a normally horizontal axis, means for driving atleast one of said wheels and means for extending and retracting thewheels of at least one of said types in a direction normal to thedirection of the plane of rotation of the wheels of one of said types(travel of said frame).
 36. The apparatus of claim 35 furthercharacterized in that the support wheels are the extendable andretractable wheels.
 37. A method of switching a rack cantilevered onthree running surfaces of a guidebeam between a main guidebeam and oneof two or more spaced apart guidebeams comprising moving said rack alongone of said guidebeams in cantilevered position, determining which ofthe other of said guidebeams to move said rack, moving a means movableon said rack to select a running surface for said rack, passing portionsof said cantilevered rack through a gap in a running surface of theguidebeams, and switching said rack to said selected guidebeam whilebridging said gap with wheels of said rack.
 38. The method of claim 37further characterized in that the rack is switched vertically.
 39. Themethod of claim 37 further characterized in that the rack is switchedhorizontally.
 40. The method of claim 37 further characterized in thatthe rack is switched from an upline guidebeam to one of two or morediverging downline guidebeams.
 41. The method of claim 38 furthercharacterized in that the rack is switched vertically between two mainline guidebeams.
 42. A method of switching a cantilevered rack between amain upline guidebeam and one of two or more diverging downlineguidebeams comprising moving said rack along an upline guidebeam,selecting one of two or more downline guidebeams to which to move saidrack, moving wheels of said rack in a direction normal to the directionof travel of said rack to select a running surface for said wheels,passing a portion of said rack through a gap in said running surface andcausing said rack to move on said running surface to the selecteddownline guidebeam while bridging said gap with wheels of said rack. 43.The method of claim 42 further characterized in that the rack isswitched vertically.
 44. The method of claim 42 further characterized inthat the rack is switched horizontally.